There is a lot of talk about the “highest calling” for an individual or the greatest fulfillment in life. Most people spend their time working towards their calling referring to it as the most important thing they can do in life. Following a calling can be seen through one’s effort to devote time, energy, passion, finances and even making hard sacrifices in pursuit of it.
I remember when I first began to surrender to the idea of infertility, and how much turmoil I faced with what I was encountering. As a woman approaching 30, I had heard many speakers talk about our ultimate calling as women was to be a wife and mother. In that calling, we were to face the spiritual battle head on by raising children for the Lord and supporting our husbands. We were keepers of the home. This was our calling.
Of course, my younger self listened diligently taking notes and preparing for that calling. But then I was faced with the fact that no matter how much I wanted to fulfill the “highest calling” for women, I was unable to do so.
While women are used as the vessel to bring human life into the world, we are not God. No matter how much I want to create a life inside of me, I am powerless in this regard. It is God who ultimately chooses who will and will not hold the title mother. It is God who intricately created me and designed the journey of my life. It is perfectly orchestrated and planned.
But, if it is true that my ultimate and highest calling is to be a mother and raise children, than am I to walk in the idea that I am living not in “God’s plan A” for my life, but rather His “plan B?” The idea of plan A and plan B is completely unscriptural and could be a whole other topic, but the answer is not about me living a second rate life by not fulfilling what has been deemed as my highest calling.
The answer lies in the fact that we have misplaced what the highest calling truly is or should we say Who it is.
Scripture shows us time and again that we are not called to something in this life, but rather to God himself. We are called to know Him, to glorify Him, to come into a relationship with Him that daily sanctifies us, and to serve Him. We are called to Jesus first in salvation, and then as the gospel continues to change us, we are called to simply follow Him. Our highest calling is Jesus. Our highest calling is to glorify God.
Paul speaks of this idea clearly in Philippians 3. He discusses all the things he did and how he initially saw it as gain, but Jesus changed everything. When He came to trust in Jesus, it changed his entire life. He then goes on to explain that his ultimate purpose is to know Christ and to glorify him. He even states in verse 14 what we are to press toward - “the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” In the following verses, he urges the other believers to also live in this way.
As a follower of Jesus, I am to be pursuing Him as my highest calling.
The amazing thing with having this correct view of my ultimate calling is that no matter what life brings, my calling will never change! If tomorrow, my entire world was taken, I can still live out my highest calling because God never changes. All my joy, hope, peace and identity is wrapped up in Him, and they will not waver no matter what vocation or title I hold because God never changes.
This calling to Him allows me to surrender the desires of my heart to the One who loves me most and trust that He has planned this beautiful path for me. Though no path is without turmoil and pain, it is still able to be seen as beautiful when I realize the ultimate calling is following, loving, knowing, and serving my Savior.
All vocations - in the home, paid or volunteer - matter. God has given each one of us specific abilities and vocations that are to be used to further His kingdom. But they are not our ultimate focus. As we seek to live out the ultimate calling of glorifying God, He will guide each and every one of us to our secondary callings and how to live those out for His glory.
You will serve whatever you place as your highest calling.
When we flip our focus to make the secondary calling the highest calling, we are now seeking identity and purpose in the wrong place. If you believe the highest calling is pastoring, you will serve the pastorate. If you believe the highest calling is to follow a career path, you will serve the career. If you believe the highest calling is motherhood, you will serve the children and the idea of motherhood.
But if you believe the highest calling is to follow God and glorify him, you will serve him and find fulfillment and purpose in the life He has laid before you. You will find that following Jesus may have you holding many different vocations or titles throughout your life, but you are no longer serving them and they do not hold your identity as they change on the path of life.
My highest calling is to follow, know, love and serve Jesus!
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